WARSAW, May 2 - RAPSI. The Polish justice minister will decide on former Moscow Region Deputy Prosecutor Alexander Ignatenko's extradition in late May, Deputy Justice Minister LL.D. Michal Krolikowski said.

Polish law enforcement officers detained Ignatenko at the Zakopane ski resort where he arrived using a false passport on January 1. The Nowy Sacz District Court decided to place him under a temporary 40-day arrest until February 9. He attempted to challenge the decision and to obtain his release on his own recognizance and a $40,000 bail, but the court extended Ignatenkos arrest for another four months and satisfied Russia's extradition request.

Under applicable legislation, the final decision on Ignatenko's extradition may be taken by Justice Minister Jaroslaw Gowin.

The former prosecutor was placed on the international wanted list as part of a notorious Moscow gambling case. Businessman Ivan Nazarov allegedly operated illegal casinos in 15 towns across the Moscow Region. According to law enforcement authorities, several high-ranking officials of regional prosecutor's offices and the Interior Ministry were involved in the casino operation, which generated between $5 million and $10 million in revenue monthly.